The much-debated veterans memorial proposed for Lake Elsinoreâs Diamond Stadium has now attracted the attention, and scorn, of a group of military atheists.

The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers has written to the Lake Elsinore City Council, urging it to remove a Christian cross from its planned memorial.

âTo place a cross or other religious symbol on a memorial for veterans is a slap in the face to our service,â wrote Jason Torpy, president of the Washington, D.C.-based group. âSuch an act by the City of Lake Elsinore gives official sanction to Christianity over all other beliefs.â

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In a phone interview, Torpy said several of his groupâs members who live in the Lake Elsinore area asked for help in fighting against the memorial. He did not provide their identities, saying they didnât feel safe speaking out.

The memorial was planned and designed by a committee of military veterans, including Mayor Brian Tisdale and members of the local branches of the veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

After a group of local artists complained about the design at a recent council meeting, the group reconvened to reconsider the monument last week.

The committee decided to keep the cross, but to add a Star of David to the design because World War II-era U.S. military gravestones used both symbols.

Tisdale could not be reached Thursday.

The City Council will have final say on the design and location of the $50,000 monument.

During last weekâs meeting, some speakers expressed concern the city could be sued over the cross. Councilwoman Melissa Melendez, who won election to the state assembly in Tuesdayâs election, said the conservative legal group Pacific Justice has pledged to represent the city for free if itâs hit by a lawsuit.

Torpy said the group does not have the resources for legal action, but he would be surprised if Lake Elsinore escapes a lawsuit.

âSomebody is going to sue them â¦â he said. âThis is so obviously a violation of their authority, itâs just too easy to object to this.â